As we move towards a more digital and connected world, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) has become increasingly important in education. To ensure that teachers are able to effectively teach IKS in universities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a training programme for over 1,000 university professors. This six-day training will cover topics such as parampara (tradition), drishti (perspective), and loukik prayojan (contemporary relevance) and will help equip teachers with the necessary skills to teach IKS in the classroom.
The UGC has collaborated with the Ministry of Education’s IKS division to introduce two credit courses on Indian culture and traditions in the first years of both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at universities across the country. In addition, the UGC aims to train 15 lakh teachers in IKS over the next two years. The training sessions are being conducted in six cities, including Nagpur, Chennai, Varanasi, Srinagar, Guwahati, and Delhi.
The training programme will also provide teachers with an overview of pre-14th century Vedic texts and the philosophical foundations of IKS such as the Darshana Shastra (Vedic Philosophy). This will offer teachers the opportunity to gain an understanding of the vocabulary associated with IKS, such as karma and dharma. Moreover, teachers will be trained in teaching IKS, such as Tantra Yukti, a research methodology and innovative pedagogy.
The UGC’s decision to introduce IKS training is consistent with the National Education Policy 2020, which directed that knowledge from ancient India and its contributions to modern India be included in the curriculum. The policy also suggested that an “engaging course” on IKS be offered to secondary school students as an elective.
The IKS cell has been established to promote interdisciplinary research on all aspects of IKS and preserve and disseminate the same for further research and societal applications. With the launch of the Malaviya Mission later this month, the UGC aims to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively teach IKS in the classroom. This mission will create more than 40 discipline-specific courses and will also onboard artists and experts from various streams to provide students with their experience and expertise.
The UGC has the unique distinction of being the only grant-giving organization in the country with two responsibilities; providing funding and coordinating, determining, and maintaining standards in higher education institutions. With the launch of the training programmes, the UGC hopes to demonstrate that IKS is about learning from the continuous knowledge traditions and the wisdom of India for building an aspiring India. Through these training programmes, teachers are empowered to bring IKS into the classroom and provide students with an engaging and valuable learning experience.
